Curtain-stretcher.



J. STAWARTZ. GURTAIN STRETGHEB.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 10, 190B.

926,081. Patented "June 22. 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1'. @Zyl 25 623mm ado THE Noam: PErtRs co.. vlAsnlNaraN.v. c.'

' atm l.

J. STAWARTZ.

CURTAIN STRETOHBR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 10 1908.

Patented June 22, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Syvum/:Ion

Ynzwomus Pzrlxs to', WASHINGTON, a! c.

mit cases www;

currar) srArns rar FltlE.

JOHN STAWARTZ, OF HOMESTEAD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSlGNOR OF ONF-HALF TOOASIMER S. TARKOWSKI, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVAYlA.

CURTAIN-STKE TCI-IER.

Application led October 10, 1908.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .Tune 22, 1909.

Serial No. 457,087.

siding' at Homestead, in the county of Alle! gheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improveu'rents inCurtain-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to curtain stretchers, and the object of myinvention is to provide a novel curtain stretching frame upon which lacecurtains, draperies and fabrics can be mounted for bleaching, drying andrepairing.

My invention aims to provide a collapsible frame that will occupy acompar'atively small space when not in use, and easily and quicklyassembled to provide a rigid structure for firmly supporting curtains.My curtain stretching frame is provided with a novel cur'tain engagingmeans for positively retaining curtains in engagement with the frame,said means being housed when the frame is not in use, to prevent aperson handling the frame from being injured by the curtain engagingmeans.

The detail construction of my invention will be presently described andthen specifieally claimed.

Referring to the drawings z-Figure l is a front elevation of my curtainstretching frame, partly broken away, Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of thesame, Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the extension plate, Fig. 4 isa plan, Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the frame,taken on the line rfc-x of Fig. l, Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan of a clampused in connection with the frame, F ig. 7 is an end view of a portionof the frame, illustrating a fastener, Fig. S is an elevation of aport-ion of the frame illustra-ting the fastener in section, Fig. 9 is across sectional view of a portion of the frame, taken on the line y-g/of Fig. 4, illustrating the curtain engaging means in an extendedposition, Fig. l() is a similar view with the curtain engaging means ina retracted position, and Fig. ll is an elevat-ion of a portion of thecurtain engaging means.

ln the accompanying drawings, l and 2 designate the end rails of myframe, 3 an intermediate rail, 4 a longitudinal top rail, and 5 anadjustable bottom rail. The rails l, 2 and 3 are each formed of twolongitudinal half-sections (see Figs. 9 and l0) suitably secur'edtogether with the confronting faces thereof recessed, as at (3, toprovide a longitudinal opening in each rail, said opening beingsubstantially triangular-shaped in cross section. One of the sections ofeach rail is provided with a plurality of eyelets T, located in therecess of the rail section. Loosely connected to said eyelets is alongitudinal plate 8 and loosely connected to the lower edge of saidplate are a plurality of pins 9 constituting curtain engaging means, andadapted to extend through openings l provided therefor in the railsection. T he outer edges of the rails l, 2 and 3 intermediate the endsthereof, are provided with a recess ll, to accommodate a lever l2 whichis pivotally connected to the plate 8 adjacent to the lower edgethereof, as indicated at 13. The lower' end of the lever' l2 isrectangular in elevation and is adapted to be swung', either to theright or left, whereby the lower' edge of said lever will engage innotches 14 provided therefor in the sections of the rails. Since thelever l2 is pivotally connected to the plate 8, and the eyelets 7 serveas a pivot point for said plate, the plate can be swung into the recess6 in either of the rail sections. With the plate in the recess in onerail section, the pins 9 are extended through the openings l0, as shownin Fig. 9, while with the plate 8 in the recess of the opposite railsection, the pins 9 are retracted as shown in Fig. l0. The adjustment ofthe pins is accomplished by the lever l2, and this lever is swung eitherto the right or the left to lock the lower edge of said'lever in one ofthe rail pieces, whereby the pins will be either held in an extended orretracted position.

Besides the rails l, 2 and 3 being equipped with the curtain engagingmeans, the rails 4 and 5 are similarly equipped, consequently arectangular' formation of pins is provided for holding the edges of acurtain or similar article.

To detachably connect the top rail 4 to the vertical rails l and 2, theouter sides of the rails l and 2 at the upper' ends thereof ar'eprovided with straps l having hook-shaped ends 1G protruding above theripper' ends of the said rails l and 2. The top face or side of the rail4 is provided with straps 17 protruding beyond the ends of said rail,the extreme end of said straps having a rolled or wire edge 18 and acentral opening 19 the latter to receive the hook-shaped ends 16 of thestraps 15, while the wire or rolled edges 18 of the straps 17 engageunder the hook-shaped ends 16 of the straps 15. These straps can beeasily interlocked and the rails 1 and 2 maintained at right angles tothe rail 4 during the use vof the adjustable bottom rail 5.

For holding the adjustable bottom rail 5 in engagement with the rails 1and 2, the

rear side of this rail at the ends thereof is provided with straps 20protruding beyond the ends of the rail 5, the protruding ends havingbearings 21 for eccentrically mounted clamps 22, these clamps beingadapted to vengage the outer sides or faces of the rails 1 and 2 andhold the inner sides or faces thereof in engagement with the ends of thebottom rail 5.

Secured to the rear face of the rail 3, at the upper end thereof, is astrap 23 which engages the top rail 4, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2,while said rail contiguous to the lower end thereof is cut away, as at24, for adjustable blocks 25 and 26, these blocks being held by means ofset screws 27 extending through a slot 23 provided therefor in theintermediate rail 3. rIhe bottom rail 5 is adapted to be clamped by oneof said blocks or between said blocks,

according to the parallel relative position of said bottom rail 5 to thetop rail 4. This adjustment of the bottom rail 5 depends entirely uponthe width of the curtains.

The rear sides or faces of the vertical rails 1 and 2 and theintermediate rail 3 are provided with pivoted legs 29 for supporting theentire frame at an inclination upon a floor or other suitable support.

The top and bottom rails 4 and 5 are made in two sections, to permit ofsaid rails being assembled in a small package or adjusted for curtainsof two different lengths. One section of each rail is provided with anextension plate 3() having slots or openings 31 formed therein forreceiving ins 32 carried by the adjoining section o each rail. Each oneof the extension plates 30 is provided with a ledge 33 for supportingthe adjoining section of the rail, this construction being best shown inFig. 3 of the drawings.

My curtain stretching frame in its entirety is made of light and durablewood to permit of the same being-conveniently used as a householdarticle, and in making the frame of several parts easily and quicklyassembled, the frame can be knocked down and stored away when not inuse.

Having now described my invention what l claim as new, is

1. A curtain stretching frame comprising vertical rails, an intermediaterail, a top rail, and bottom rail, said rails having longitudinalrecesses formed therein, said rails having longitudinally arrangedopenings formed therein communicating with said recesses, platespivotally mounted in said recesses, pins loosely connected to saidplates and adapted to extend into said openings, levers pivotallyconnected to said plates and protruding from said rails for locking saidplates in a fixed position, straps for detachably connecting said toprail to Vsaid vertical rails, eccentrically mounted clamps carried bythe ends of said bottom rail for detachably holding said rail inengagement with said vertical rails, an adjustable block carried by saidintermediate rail for holding said bottom rail in engagement therewith,and legs pivoted to said vertical and intermediate rails for supportingsaid frame at an inclination, substantially as described.

2. A curtain stretching frame embodying vertical rails, an intermediaterail, a top rail, and a bottom rail, curtain engaging means carried bysaid rails, said means comprising plates pivotally mounted in saidrails, pins looselyconnected to said'plates and adapted to protrude fromsaid rails, and levers carried by said plates and protruding from saidrails for locking` saidplates in a fixed position; means for detachablyconnecting said top rail to said vertical rails, means for detachablyconnecting -said bottom rail to said vertical rails, means carried bysaid intermediate rail for clamping said bottom rail thereto. and meansconnected to said vertical rails and said intermediate rail forsupporting said frame.

In testimony whereof I aliiX my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN STAVARTZ.

Witnesses MAX H. SnoLovirz, K. H. BUTLER.

